Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Embolization is commonly used for the treatment of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVM) prior to stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Due to mixed outcomes, however, its use remains controversial. This article is a review of recent studies assessing the efficacy of pre-radiosurgical embolization for brain AVMs.EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Articles published between 1990 and 2017 on the subject of pre- radiosurgical AVM embolization were retrieved from PubMed.EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: A literature review was performed on the selected studies to compare obliteration, hemorrhage, and complication rates from groups treated with embolization prior to radiosurgery to those treated without embolization.CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the studies reviewed demonstrate mixed results on the efficacy of pre-radiosurgical AVM embolization. For large, complex AVMs, embolization prior to radiosurgery may have a role in carefully selected patients performed by experienced practitioners.

View details for PubMedID 29582980